CVE-2026-16862: CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write in IBM AIX
Description
CVE-2026-16862 is a critical vulnerability in IBM AIX versions 7.2 and 7.3, and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1. It involves a stack buffer overflow that could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code without any privileges or user interaction.
CVSS v3.1
Score 9.8critical
Affected software
IBM
AIX
IBM
PowerVM VIOS
cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:aix:7.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:powervm_vios:4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*cpe:2.3:a:ibm:powervm_vios:4.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*Run on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is a stack-based buffer overflow (CWE-787) affecting IBM AIX 7.2, 7.3, and IBM PowerVM VIOS 4.1. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code due to improper bounds checking on the stack, leading to potential full system compromise. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 9.8, indicating critical severity with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation could result in complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability loss on affected systems, enabling remote code execution with high privileges.
Mitigation Recommendations
No patch or official fix information is provided in the available data. Patch status is not yet confirmed — check the IBM vendor advisory for current remediation guidance.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- ibm
- Date Reserved
- 2026-07-24T03:54:41.657Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 6a860993acd9273b498b4c5b
Added to database: 08/19/2026, 19:52:51 UTC
Last enriched: 09/11/2026, 05:47:16 UTC
Last updated: 10/04/2026, 10:02:25 UTC
Views: 32
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